Use of the SCUAF model to simulate natural miombo woodland and maize monoculture ecosystems in Zimbabwe

Vermeulen, Sonja J.; Woomer, Paul L.; Campbell, Bruce M.; Kamukondiwa, W.; Swift, M. J.; Fröst, Peter; Chivaura, C.; Murwira, H. K.; Mutambanengwe, F.; Nyathi, P.

doi:10.1007/bf00705238

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We selected SCUAF because it is the simplest of the several models available to analyse the problem at hand. Several previous applications of SCUAF give confidence in the model (Ehui et al 1990;Grist et al 1999;Magcale-Macandong et al 1998;Menz et al 1998;Nelson et al 1998;Tambula and Sinden 2000;Vermeulen et al 1993). The model has been applied widely to problems similar to the current study, and appears suitable for the present research.…”

Section: Scuaf Modelmentioning

confidence: 59%

Performance of an improved fallow system in the Peruvian Amazon—modelling approach

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As traditional slash-and-burn systems with prolonged fallow periods are no longer feasible in most parts of the tropics, improved agroforestry systems have high potential to increase the productivity of farming systems and sustain continuous crop production. Our objective was to assess biophysical and economic performance of planted leguminous tree fallow (using Inga edulis) compared to the traditional slash-and-burn farming system, practiced by farmers on fields infested with noxious weedy

show abstract

Section: Scuaf Modelmentioning

confidence: 59%

Performance of an improved fallow system in the Peruvian Amazon—modelling approach

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Dry matter weights are used for the biomass inputs to SCUAF, and SCUAF reports yields from gross area cropped including the area occupied by hedgerows. Nelson et al (1996a) reviewed previous applications of SCUAE Vermeulen et al (1993) evaluated the suitability of SCUAF in simulating soil nutrient dynamics and plant productivity of miombo woodland and adjacent maize crops in Zimbabwe. Samzussaman (1994) applied SCUAF to hedgerow intercropping in the Philippines.…”

Section: Soil Changes Under Agroforestry (Scuaf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A cost-benefit analysis of hedgerow intercropping in the Philippine uplands using the SCUAF model

et al. 1996

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soil erosion in the Philippine uplands is severe. Hedgerow intercropping is widely advocated as an effective means of controlling soil erosion from annual cropping systems in the uplands. However, few farmers adopt hedgerow intercropping even in areas where it has been vigorously promoted. This may be because farmers find hedgerow intercropping to be uneconomic compared to traditional methods of farming. This paper reports a cost-benefit analysis comparing the economic returns from traditional maize farming with those from hedgerow intercropping in an upland community with no past adoption of hedgerows. A simple erosion/productivity model, Soil Changes Under Agroforestry (SCUAF), is used to predict maize yields over 25 years. Economic data were collected through key informant surveys with experienced maize farmers in an upland community. Traditional methods of open-field farming of maize are economically attractive to farmers in the Philippine uplands. In the short term, establishment costs are a major disincentive to the adoption of hedgerow intercropping. In the long term, higher economic returns from hedgerow intercropping compared to open-field farming are realised, but these lie beyond farmers' limited planning horizons.

show abstract

“…In previous publications, three kinds of models have been used to assess the impact of soil erosion on SOC dynamics at the eroding sites [ Bouwman , 1989; Vermeulen et al , 1993; Harden et al , 1999], and no counterpart models have been available for depositional sites. The first group includes models that are designed to investigate the impact of soil erosion on soil organic matter [e.g., Voroney et al , 1981; Bouwman , 1989].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The third modeling approach relies on biogeochemical models that simulate the dynamics of carbon and nutrients in vegetation and soil. So far, only two models are reported to have incorporated erosion processes into biogeochemical cycles: CENTURY [ Harden et al , 1999] and Soil Change Under AgroForestry (SCUAF) [ Vermeulen et al , 1993]. SCUAF is specifically designed for agroforestry systems, and it is still under development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling carbon dynamics in vegetation and soil under the impact of soil erosion and deposition

Liu

Bliss

Sundquist

et al. 2003

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

223

221

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] Soil erosion and deposition may play important roles in balancing the global atmospheric carbon budget through their impacts on the net exchange of carbon between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Few models and studies have been designed to assess these impacts. In this study, we developed a general ecosystem model, ErosionDeposition-Carbon-Model (EDCM), to dynamically simulate the influences of rainfallinduced soil erosion and deposition on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in soil profiles. EDCM was applied to several landscape positions in the Nelson Farm watershed in Mississippi, including ridge top (without erosion or deposition), eroding hillslopes, and depositional sites that had been converted from native forests to croplands in 1870. Erosion reduced the SOC storage at the eroding sites and deposition increased the SOC storage at the depositional areas compared with the site without erosion or deposition. Results indicated that soils were consistently carbon sources to the atmosphere at all landscape positions from 1870 to 1950, with lowest source strength at the eroding sites (13 to 24 gC m À2 yr À1 ), intermediate at the ridge top (34 gC m À2 yr À1 ), and highest at the depositional sites (42 to 49 gC m À2 yr À1 ). During this period, erosion reduced carbon emissions via dynamically replacing surface soil with subsurface soil that had lower SOC contents (quantity change) and higher passive SOC fractions (quality change). Soils at all landscape positions became carbon sinks from 1950 to 1997 due to changes in management practices (e.g., intensification of fertilization and crop genetic improvement). The sink strengths were highest at the eroding sites (42 to 44 gC m À2 yr À1 ), intermediate at the ridge top (35 gC m À2 yr À1 ), and lowest at the depositional sites (26 to 29 gC m À2 yr À1 ). During this period, erosion enhanced carbon uptake at the eroding sites by continuously taking away a fraction of SOC that can be replenished with enhanced plant residue input. Overall, soil erosion and deposition reduced CO 2 emissions from the soil into the atmosphere by exposing low carbon-bearing soil at eroding sites and by burying SOC at depositional sites. The results suggest that failing to account for the impact of soil erosion and deposition may potentially contribute to an overestimation of both the total historical carbon released from soils owing to land use change and the contemporary carbon sequestration rates at the eroding sites.

show abstract

Use of the SCUAF model to simulate natural miombo woodland and maize monoculture ecosystems in Zimbabwe

Cited by 16 publications

References 2 publications

Performance of an improved fallow system in the Peruvian Amazon—modelling approach

Performance of an improved fallow system in the Peruvian Amazon—modelling approach

A cost-benefit analysis of hedgerow intercropping in the Philippine uplands using the SCUAF model

Modeling carbon dynamics in vegetation and soil under the impact of soil erosion and deposition

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About